Guest commentary: In 2008, let's resolve to be more positive, more civil — and happier!

2007 was a good year. But it ends with many Americans feeling angry, pessimistic, or apathetic, rather than proud, hopeful, and energized.

At 2008 begins, we're hammered with bad news, gloomy predictions, and over-bearing political campaigning. We don't want another year of partisan bickering, congressional in-action, and an insatiable 24/7 media relishing in unfair accusations and lusting after slip-ups by those who serve or would serve America.

Throughout 2007 there were many under-reported achievements that, properly shared, would have left Americans feeling better and more optimistic. As the 2008 curtain rises, let's happily take a positive look-back at 2007.

Remarkably, the U.S. was free from attack at home for the sixth straight year!

In Iraq, with our selfless help, the Iraqi people are winning. The 2007 surge proved to be the most brilliant counterinsurgency campaign in history. With precision teamwork, Coalition and Iraqi forces defeated foreign fighters and extremists throughout Iraq, while carefully protecting local neighborhoods.

As 2008 begins, we see dramatic 90 percent reductions in combat/civilian fatalities, in sectarian violence, and in IED attacks. Syrian and Iranian interventions have dropped substantially. Oil revenues are being shared. Better led, trained and equipped Iraqi Security Forces are assuming more responsibilities. Over 1,000 Iraqi exiles are returning to Baghdad every day!

These under-reported achievements foretell 2008 political reconciliation with implications far beyond Iraq. Continued success will represent a strategic breakthrough for representative government in the Middle East, a milestone of profound importance in the struggle against extremism.

Islamic jihad will not disappear overnight. But in 2007, the world where jihadists recruit, train, seek WMD, and plot mass murder continued to shrink. Worldwide dialogue and support against terrorism increased. Multilateral diplomatic efforts on North Korea, Iran, and Lebanon bore fruit. North Korea has disabled its plutonium-producing program. Libya's nuclear program is over. Iran, while unfortunately continuing uranium enrichment, has set aside its nuclear weaponization efforts.

NATO is performing well in supporting Afghanistan's unprecedented march toward self-sufficiency. U.S. ties with traditional European allies, particularly Britain, France and Germany, are the strongest in years. Remarkably, over 50 nations gathered in Annapolis, Maryland to launch new discussions between Israelis and Palestinians.

All this 2007 good news was under-reported.

While dangers remain, 2007 saw positive steps toward handing our grandchildren a safer planet — achievements which can be built upon in 2008.

At home, 2007 saw a strong economy, with a bright economic outlook for 2008.

U.S. economic growth was a whopping 5 percent in Q3 and 3 percent annually — impressively high for the fifth straight year. America's 2007 productivity was the envy of the world. Employment continued at record highs, averaging over 100,000 new jobs per month, with 3 percent growth in incomes. At year-end, America's unemployment rate is historically low at 4.7 percent, headline inflation is comfortably low at 2.5 percent, and America's consumer spending is up

3 percent; to all-time highs.

2007 tax revenues rose to record highs, and the U.S. deficit dropped to half of the 2001 deficit. As a percent of GDP, the deficit is now below the 40-year average.

For 2007, the NASDAQ will gain

15 percent and the Dow Jones will gain 8 percent, extraordinary statistics that benefit all Americans who invest and/or have IRAs.

All this has been accomplished with lower tax-rates that have achieved higher tax revenues. For the fourth straight year, lower tax-rates helped entrepreneurs and enabled small businesses; the engines of America's economy. This yielded more private sector investment, improved U.S. competitiveness, more and better paying U.S. jobs, more U.S. exports, fewer U.S. jobs moving overseas, and more money in consumers' pockets.

Pretty impressive. Yet only

one-third of Americans approve of the Bush administration's handling of the economy. Why is the good news not better understood? Why do we only hear about sub-prime mortgage problems, housing downturns, and high oil prices? Why is our extraordinary economic success the greatest story never told?

For 2008, let's resolve as a nation to focus more on the positives. Let's support and elect leaders with an optimistic vision; leaders who can unite us behind common goals on tough issues like immigration and energy. And let's all resolve to end inflammatory rhetoric and conduct our discussions in a more civil fashion.

If we do so, it will truly be a Happy New Year!

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Jack Tymann, as president of Westinghouse International, led business development in 75 nations, including most Muslim countries. He later founded Homeland Security Partners, focused on counterterrorism technologies. In the 1990s, he served on and chaired the Clinton-Mubarak Presidents' Council for the Middle East and met regularly with Arab leaders. He founded "Voices Against Jihad" in Naples. E-mail him at No2jihad@aol.com.